“You’re still carrying a torch for her, aren’t you?” Ross: “I don’t think I’ll ever get over her.”
The camera lingers on Ross’s face. He looks at Rachel. She doesn’t notice. The audience realizes: this isn’t just a show about six friends. It’s a seven-season-long slow-burn romance. friends season 1 episode 1
The final shot: The six friends sit at Central Perk, rain pouring outside. Monica says, “I’ll get the coffee.” Rachel says, “I’ll come with you.” They leave the four men behind. Joey, Chandler, Ross, and Phoebe sit in silence. Then Chandler delivers the last line of the pilot, breaking the fourth wall slightly: “And I just want a million dollars.” The audience laughs. Freeze frame. Fade to credits. “You’re still carrying a torch for her, aren’t you
Ross Geller, Monica’s older brother, is freshly divorced from Carol, his lesbian wife. He’s mopey, insecure, and carrying a futon up four flights of stairs (“Pivot!” doesn’t happen until S5, but the spirit is there). He’s had a crush on Rachel since 9th grade. The audience realizes: this isn’t just a show
But audiences didn’t care about critics. The pilot earned a (approx. 31 million viewers), finishing #1 in its timeslot. By episode 6, it was a top-5 show. By season 2, it was the #1 show on television.